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Frank Bergquist
Frank Bergquist graduated from Eddyville, IA, high school in 1958. After graduation, he entered the Army, serving 20 years in Missouri, Maryland, New Mexico, Germany, Iowa, Turkey, Kansas, S.E. Asia, and finally retiring in 1978 in Louisiana. Before retiring, Frank was assigned as an ROTC instructor at WSU and Kemper Military School until 1974. In 1978 he served as the Non-Commissioned officer in charge of operations at Fort Polk, LA. He has served as the Veterans Counselor (DVOP) with the Kansas Job Service Center National Service Office, with the Disabled American Veterans at the VA Regional Office in Wichita; Veterans Employment and Training Coordinator with the US Dept. of Labor at Ft. Riley, KS; Service Coordinator with Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation; Dept Adjutant-Treasurer and the Dept. Executive Director Dept. of Kansas Disabled American Veterans; and past President of the Wichita Civil War Round Table. Currently he is doing graduate work as an instructor in Genealogy and Military History at Wichita State and Kansas State Universities, and is the CEO for the Disabled American Veterans Thrift Stores in Wichita, KS. Bergquist has an AA from Kemper Military School and College from Boonville, MO. and a BGS from Wichita State University. He can be reached by telephone at 316-262-6501. He is located at 926 N. Mosley Wichita 67214.
Veteran Affairs
2007-06-01 09:43:00
What makes a hero?
What is a hero?
Answer: In mythology and legend, a man, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods. Or a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life: soldiers and nurses who were heroes in an unpopular war. The term “Hero” is often used for someone who served his or her country. Not in any particular fashion but just because they were there. Col. Murtha, a retired Marine has been treated as if he had never been in uniform. Is he a Hero, I don’t know. He was in uniform for a long period of time. People in uniform are sent where our leaders want them to go. We never have a choice. One of the many sayings you hear in service is: “Don’t volunteer.” But when you raise your hand to enlist or to be commissioned you volunteer. Our military service now, is an all volunteer force. Back to the Hero part, are they all hero’s? I tend to think they are patriots. If they receive a Bronze Star with a “V” device for Valor, or above they are “Hero’s”. To me a Hero is someone goes beyond just being there. I’m in Wichita, KS about three miles from the grave of Richard E. Cowan. Cowan, Richard Eller Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company M, 23rd Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Krinkelter Wald, Belgium, 17 December 1944. Entered service at: Wichita, Kans. Birth: Lincoln, Nebr. G.O. No.: 48, 23 June 1945. Citation: He was a heavy machine gunner in a section attached to Company I in the vicinity of Krinkelter Wald, Belgium, 17 December 1944, when that company was attacked by a numerically superior force of German infantry and tanks. The first 6 waves of hostile infantrymen were repulsed with heavy casualties, but a seventh drive with tanks killed or wounded all but 3 of his section, leaving Pvt. Cowan to man his gun, supported by only 15 to 20 riflemen of Company I. He maintained his position, holding off the Germans until the rest of the shattered force had set up a new line along a firebreak. Then, unaided, he moved his machine gun and ammunition to the second position. At the approach of a Royal Tiger tank, he held his fire until about 80 enemy infantrymen supporting the tank appeared at a distance of about 150 yards. His first burst killed or wounded about half of these infantrymen. His position was rocked by an 88mm. Shell when the tank opened fire, but he continued to man his gun, pouring deadly fire into the Germans when they again advanced. He was barely missed by another shell. Fire from three machine guns and innumerable small arms struck all about him; an enemy rocket shook him badly, but did not drive him from his gun. Infiltration by the enemy had by this time made the position untenable, and the order was given to withdraw. Pvt. Cowan was the last man to leave, voluntarily covering the withdrawal of his remaining comrades. His heroic actions were entirely responsible for allowing the remaining men to retire successfully from the scene of their last-ditch stand. Any argument about whether this man was a Hero? The above listing is from his award of the Medal of Honor. PFC Cowan never knew of this award. He was killed in combat the next day. He is buried in the Wichita Park Cemetery. He is a legitimate Hero. He did not just serve in the US Army, his service was such that he was awarded the Medal of Honor. He probably didn’t volunteer for the US Army. Most likely he was drafted for the “duration plus six months.” I don’t really mind that all these soldiers, sailors, marines and airman are called “Hero’s”. They are serving in a dirty, nasty war. A war in which it is hard to tell who is the enemy. I hope it ends soon.
 
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